Giordana to tackle Italo terrorism pic

Cattleya film looks at Piazza Fontana bombing

Helmer Marco Tullio Giordana, best known internationally for terrorism-themed pic “The Best of Youth,” will tackle Italy’s most infamous act of postwar political terrorism, the Piazza Fontana massacre, in his next film.”Piazza Fontana” (working title) is being developed by Cattleya, the indie stable in which Universal holds a stake. Italo scribe duo Stefano Rulli and Sandro Petraglia (“The Best of Youth,” “Crime Novel”) are penning the screenplay. Cattleya topper Riccardo Tozzi said the pic will start shooting in August. The cast is still being set.

Pubcaster RAI’s RAI Cinema will co-produce and distrib the pic locally via its 01 Distribuzione. Talks are under way for U to distribute internationally.

The 1969 bombing at the Milan headquarters of a big national bank killed 17, wounded 88 and triggered a series of deadly bombings in other Italian cities over the ensuing three decades, now known as the country’s “years of lead.” That period culminated with the 1978 kidnapping and assassination of Prime Minister Aldo Moro by Red Brigades guerrillas.

The Piazza Fontana bombings, and others, have been widely ascribed to a ploy by the country’s secret services to prevent the Communist Party from taking power, with the CIA also reportedly involved.

Separately, Giordana will also helm a six-part “Piazza Fontana” TV docu for RAI.